Swivel coupling



June 22, 1948. F. J. SCHENKELBERGER' 2,443,993

SWIVEL COUPLING 1 Filed Jan. 26, 1945 IIII W INVEN TOR.

m/KMW Patented June 22, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SWIVEL COUPLING Frank J. Schenkelberger, Cleveland, Ohio Application January .26, 1945, Serial No. '574,749

a 5 Claims.

This invention relates to couplings and particularly to swivel or flexible joints used for conducting fluids such as a coolant to a cutting or a grinding tool.

The primary object of this invention is to construct a simple, unitary and economical device which is durable, efficient and capable of withstanding a relatively high degree of pressure without leaking.

Another object is to provide a coupling of the type mentioned which is capable of making unlimited and unrestricted rotations in either direction.

A further object of this invention is to provide an assembly which utilizes a snap split ring which inseparably locks all the elements together at one time. i

A still further object is to equip such device with a pressure-sensitive fluid seal that tightens as the pressure of the leakage against it increases.

These and other objects and features of the invention will become apparent from a reading of the following description, together with the accompanying drawing, in which like parts are referred to and indicated by like reference characters and wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the preferred form of coupling, with certain parts broken away to show internal structure;

Figure 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the device, taken along the line-and in the direction of the arrows 2-2 of the Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an exploded view of the coupling shown in theFigures 1 and 2;

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional View of a portion of the pressure-sensitive seal used in the preferred form of the coupling;

Figure 5 is a side elevation of a modified form of swivel coupling, with certain parts'broken away to show internal structure;

Figure 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the modified form of coupling, taken along the line and in the direction of the arrows 6-6 of the Figure "5;

Figure 7 is an exploded view of a part of the coupling shown in the Figures 5 and 6; and

Figure Sis an enlarged cross-sectional view of a part of a slightly diiferent type of pressuresensitive seal which maybe used with either form of the coupling.

Figures 1 to linclusive consists of 'malerand female members, two bushings, a pressure-sensitive seal and a snap or split ring. Each of these elements will be described in detailand in the order just set forth.

The male member consists of a tubular portion H which may be either angular, as shown, or straight. The outer or free end is provided with screw threads 12' for connection to a pipe or'conduit 9. Its inner end has concentric annular portions integral therewith; The large annular portion 13 is separatedfrcm the small annular portion M at thegradial shoulder 11. The peripheral edge it ofthe small annular portion I4 is beveled, as shown in theFigure 3, and has an external circumferential groove IS a short distance inside the bevelled edge -6. The part of theannular portion [4 between the groove I 5 and the bevelled edge I6 is referred to herein as a collar portion.

The female member 2%! consists of :a tubular portion which similarly is provided with screw threads 22 for engaging ap'ipe orconduitd. "This member also may be either angular, as shown, or perfectly straight, as desired; The female mem ber 2i similarly has ring i'portions '23 and 24 integral therewith, as indicated in the drawing.

The large ringportion is indicated by, the character '23 and the small rin portion is indicated by the character'l l'. Thering portions are concentric, as shown, are separated at the radial shoulder 27, and the inner endof the small ring portion 24 is'bevelled to form a; seat 26 for the bevelled peripheral edge l6 of the ,male member. The small ring portion has .an inwardly directed collar or flange '28 which forms, between I the seal- 26 and the shoulder 21, an internal ,ane

nular groove 25.

The twobushing members 4] and #15 are simply conventional bronze .or self-lubricating; bushings which it betweenthe ring and annular portions of the male andfemale members respectively. The large bushing liljfits between the large ,annular portion 13, and .the large rin portion 23, and the smalll'bus'hing l5 fits between the small annular portion ,14 and thesmallring portion .24.

The pressure-sensitive sealflmember 30 .consists of a .short,.tubular unetal'ring which ,.has a large flange portion 32 .onpne side thereof, a small flange 33 .on the :opposite .side, and a rubber asket 35 therein. The ,outer surface 35 of .the rubber --gasket 351 is tightly cemented ,or otherwise sealedto the inner surface .of vetherrietsl ring 31. The side eithe -gasket {35 facing ,the large flangerdais convex, whil rthe-rside 3820f the gasket facing the small flange 3,3 .is i-COHCQNG, as shown in the Figure 4. Both the convex and concave surfaces are covered with a smooth textile fabric 39. The edge 31 where the covered surfaces meet is normally loose, but when assembled, is capable of making a tight fluid-proof contact with the small annular portion I 4. Increased fluid pressure against the concave surface 38 causes it to spread and forces the edge 3.! tighter against the male member than otherwise. The outer surface of the metal ring 3| is press or snug fitted to the inner surface of the small ring portion 24 and is therefore leak-proof. The seal 30 is mounted on the male member so that the large flange 32 faces or abuts the bushing 4| and shoulder I1 and so that the small flange 33 faces and abuts the shoulder 21 of the female member.

The split or snap ring 50 is made to fit the grooves I5 and 25 simultaneously. It is cut diagonally at 5| so that it might be spread slightly when the bevelled edge I6 is forced through it. This ring is loosely mounted in the internal annular groove 25 and more tightly mounted in the external circumferential groove I5, and simply serves as an automatic lock for retaining the members and elements together.

During assembly, the large bushing H is first placed on the large annular portion I3 of the male member; the seal 30 and the small bushing 45 are then mounted on the small annular portion I4 as heretofore mentioned. The snap ring 50 is then distorted or is constricted and inserted inside the internal annular groove 25. The two members II and 2|, with their respective parts, are placed and pressed together until the snap ring 50 opens and closes in the grooves I5 and 25. The parts then assume the respective positions shown in the Figure 1. V

The two members may be turned with respect to each other in either direction and without limit, and are normally inseparable, In the Figure 1, the reference characters 9a and 22a indicate the alternate positions of the female member 22 and a conduit 9a attached thereto.

Modified form' The modified form of the invention shown in the Figures 5, 6, '7 and 8 is very similar to the preferred form of coupling heretofore described. It differs only in two respects. It uses one bronze bushing instead of two, and it has a simpler and less expensive type of pressure-sensitive fluid seal.

The modified form of the invention consists of a male member, indicated by the reference character III, and a female member, indicated by the reference character I2I. The male member III is shaped substantially the same as the previously described male member II of the preferred form. It too has a threaded means at its free end for receiving a conduit 9. It also has inte ral large and small annular concentric portions I I3 and H4. The small annular portion I I4 is separated from the large annular portion II3 by a radially extending shoulder II'I. It has a peripheral bevelled edge H6 and an external circumferential groove H5 adjacent thereto.

The female member I2I has a threaded opening for receiving the conduit 9 and has a large ring portion I23 and a small ring portion'I24 at the end opposite the threaded opening. The ring portions are integral with the body member and are concentric with the fluid passage therein. The large ring portion I23 is separated from the small ring portion I24 by the radial shoulder I 21. The small ring portion I24 also has a bevelled seat 4 I26 for receiving the peripheral edge H6 of the male member, and an internal annular groove I25 betweenthe seat I26 and the shoulder I21.

The single wide bushing I4I of the modified form fits between the large annular portion H3 and the large ring portion I23, as shown in the Figure 5.

The pressure-sensitive fluid seal used with the modified form is very similar to the seal previously described and used with the preferred form of coupling. It difiers from the preferred,

form, however, in that it does not have a flanged metal ring similar to that indicated by the reference character 3|. The instant seal I30 is also made of rubber and has an outer portion or peripheral surface I 36 which is cemented to or is in tight contact with the inner surface of the large ring portion I23. Its convex side is covered with a textile fabric I39 and abuts closely against the shoulder II I and the bushing MI on the male member I I I. It also has a concave circular side wall I38 which may be spread inwardly by the pressure of the fluid thereagainst. When the concave side is spread open, the inner surface I31 fits tightly against the small annular portion I IA, thus preventing leakage of the fluid through or past the bushing MI. The concave side wall of the seal or gasket I 30 faces the radial shoulder I2! between the large and small ring portions.

The split ring I50 used with the modified form of the invention is similar to the one used in the preferred form. 'It is made to spread into and engage the two facin external annular circumferential groove H5 and the internal annular groove I25 simultaneously. It also may be spread or enlarged during assembly by the insertion of the bevelled peripheral edge II6 throughit.

The Figure 5 shows, in broken lines and by the reference character I2Ia, the alternate position of the female member I 2I, and also shows, by the reference character 9a, the conduit attached thereto.

This modified form of the invention may also be made with the preferred type of seal, and it should be understood also that the preferred form of the invention may also be made with the simpler type of seal shown in the Figure 8.

Having thus disclosed the invention in its preferred forms, it should be understood that the inventions as described and illustrated are not to be considered in a limiting sense as there may be many other forms or modifications of a swivel coupling which may also be regarded as coming within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim: 1. A swivel coupling, comprising in combination, a tubular female member including means for engaging a fluid conduit at one end thereof and having a ring portion integral therewith at the opposite end thereof, the said ring portion having an inwardly directed flange therein, a snap ring loosely engaged by the said flange, and a tubular male member including means for engaging a fluid conduit at one end thereof and having an annular portion integral therewith at the opposite end thereof and engageable by the said ring portion, the said ring portion having a bevelled peripheral edge engageable with the snap ring and an external circumferential groove therein receiving the said snap ring.

2. A coupling of the type defined in claim 1 and further characterized by the said ring portion having an inwardly extending pressure sensitive fluid seal mounted'therein and rotatably 'engageable with the annular portion.

3. A swivel coupling, comprising in combination, a tubular female member including small and large ring portions integral therewith and having a first radial shoulder between the said ring portions, the said small ring portion having an internal annular groove therein, a tubular male member including small and large annular portions integral therewith and having a second radial shoulder between the said annular portions, the said small annular portion having a bevelled peripheral edge and an external circumferential groove therein, small and large bushings mounted between the respective small and large ring and annular portions, 9. pressure sensitive fluid seal between the first and second radial shoulders, and a snap ring spreadable by the said bevelled edge and simultaneously receivable by the said internal and external grooves in a manner whereby the said members, bushings and seal are locked together.

4. A swivel coupling, comprising in combination, a tubular female member including small and large ring portions integral therewith and having a first radial shoulder between the said ring portions, the said small ring portion having an internal annular groove therein, a tubular male member including small and large annular portions integral therewith and having a second radial shoulder between the said annular portions, the said small annular portion having a bevelled peripheral edge and an external circumferential groove therein, a bushing between the large ring and. annular portions, a pressure sensitive fiuid seal between the first and second radial shoulders, and a snap ring spreadable by the said bevelled edge and simultaneously receivable by the said internal and external grooves in a manner whereby the said members, bushing and seal are locked together.

5. A swivel coupling, comprising in combination, a first tubular member including means for REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 324,874 Morton Aug. 25, 1885 1,106,918 Bordo Aug. 11, 1914 1,884,266 Russell Oct. 25, 1932 2,066,711 Banks Jan. 5, 1937 

